Bandjela out in front in C. Sulawesi polls

Ruslan Sangadji

Only hours after voting was completed in Central Sulawesi's inaugural direct gubernatorial elections Monday, retired major general and former governor Bandjela Paliudju held a commanding lead in provisional vote counting.

Bandjela and running mate Achmad Yahya appeared to have struck a chord with local voters in the conflict-stricken province, running on slogans such as "Vote for me if you want security" and "Conscience never dies".

Bandjela, nominated by United People's Coalition, comprising several parties including the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Crescent Star Party (PBB), was in the lead in provisional results in Palu city, the third biggest city in the province, with 188,752 voters.

In North Lolu in South Palu, he won 193 votes, while rivals Jusuf Paddong only gained 11 votes, Rully Lamadjido 102 votes and Aminuddin Ponulele -- the incumbent governor and Golkar Party chairman in the province -- 62 votes.

In Donggala subdistrict, West Palu, Bandjela won 226 votes while Rully won 188 votes, Aminuddin 77 votes and Jusuf 17 votes.

Many residents in Poso also preferred the Bandjela ticket, which won 70 percent in Tegal Rejo subdistrict and another 90 percent in Lawangga subdistrict.

Michael The, an ethnic Chinese resident of Palu, said he voted for Bandjela since he showed no hatred toward other groups in his campaign and accommodated newcomers to the area.

"I also voted for him because of his promise of security," he said.

No quick count was conducted in the election and none of the Central Sulawesi Election Commission members were willing to give comment on the provisional results. Official vote counting results -- from 4,240 voting booths across the province's 10 regencies and cities -- are expected to be completed in several days.

On Monday, the commission's office was heavily guarded by dozens of police officers following a protest Sunday by hundreds of residents. The protesters demanded the election should be postponed by at least two weeks while awaiting the completion of the registration process. They said many eligible voters did not receive their voter registration cards.

Final voter registration listed 1,498,870 eligible voters among the province's two million residents.

A small protest also marked Mond